CONSOLIDATED ROCKFILL OPTIMIZATION AT KIDD-CREEK MINES

Kidd Creek Mines places approximately 10 000 tonnes of consolidated ro ckfill (CRF) daily Consolidated rockfill comprises sized aggregate mix ed with different ratios and amounts of binders. Consolidated rockfill is employed to simplify subsequent pillar recovery and provide improv ed passive/active ground support. The consolidated rockfill is designe d to sustain not only the gravitational loading of the overlaying fill material, bur also to some extent the dynamic loading applied during blasting of the adjacent stopes and/or pillars. This paper describes t he steps taken to optimize the present fill system at Kidd Creek Mines . The emphasis is on four areas which have high saving potential: lowe r cost alternative binders, structural design, quality control measure s, in-situ testing techniques for back analysis. A consolidated rockfi ll design optimization chart was developed from these investigations.